For some, it’s a constant thorn in their side. For others, it’s their secret weapon. A few say they don’t give it much thought. But whatever their views on fashion, women in politics know they will be judged by how they dress more than their male counterparts. Fashion, with all its superficial subtext, might be a dirty word in parliament or the presidential palace but a female politician’s style can never be invisible like a man’s. And on the arm of their husbands, first ladies inevitably make a statement about the leader in a dark suit and tie next to them. These women aren’t afforded the immunity of a uniform. Like it or not, fashion is still a potent measure of women in politics today.

Power Dressing is the first major work to explore the role of fashion and style in the careers of hundreds of first ladies and women politicians around the world. Combining entertaining portraits with sharp sartorial analysis, concise thematic chapters are interspersed with profiles of more than 50 serving and former women presidents, prime ministers, congresswomen, governors, MPs, mayors, royals and first ladies from over 30 countries, ranging from such contemporary figures as Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Angela Merkel and Queen Rania of Jordan to such iconic women as Eva Perón, Imelda Marcos and Margaret Thatcher. Featuring over 500 colour photographs that shed light on political context, and quotes from prominent figures commenting on each woman's style, this captivating book reveals the milestone 'fashion moments' as well as the unspoken rules of the political fashion game.

They are as young as 18 and as old as 100: communists, democrats, socialists, republicans, hardline conservatives, assassinated populists, secularists, religious fundamentalists, freedom fighting separatists, mad monarchs and screaming liberals.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe; from the White House to Whitehall; and just about everywhere in between, hundreds of political women from over 90 countries are divided among five thematic chapters. More than 50 of these women have been profiled in-depth through entertaining and informative 'style portraits' and hundreds of colour photographs featuring their outfits. They include: